Chalcopyrite on quartz
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© Australian Museum
These large, golden tetrahedral chalcopyrite (copper iron sulphide) crystals on quartz matrix were purchased in the mid-1960s by Albert Chapman from John Cerlienco of South Australia. Before that it was in the Thomas Cloud Collection of mainly South Australian specimens.
Specimen details
Origin
Moonta Mine, South Australia, Australia
Size
10 x 21 x 5 cm (crystals to 5 cm)
Date
Registered 1996
Collection number
D.50666
Collection
Thomas Cloud was a metallurgist and assayer – someone who tests ores and minerals and analyses them to determine their composition and value. He studied at the Royal School of Mines, Imperial College in London, before moving to Australia. He was appointed assayer at the Wallaroo Smelting Works in 1870 and was Mine Manager from 1883 to 1903. His access to mines in the area allowed him to build up a fine collection of South Australian minerals.
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